Stepfathering 101: Stonewalling

Stephen Pollard (right) and his lawyer, Alexis Medina. (Photo by Boy Santos)

The last post made the connection between a 2004 accident that killed Nestor Ponce Jr. and a recent bad case of road rage that ended up with the death of Renato Ebarle Jr.  As of now, Philippine press reports that the person of interest regarding the Ebarle Jr. killing, Jason Ivler, still remains at large, while his stepfather, Stephen Pollard (whose name appears on the registration of the two vehicles used in the incidents), submitted a statement regarding his involvement in the incident yesterday.

Mr. Pollard is an executive at the Asian Development Bank and enjoys "diplomatic immunity," so he was not held yesterday, he simply made it clear that

he was not the one driving the Honda CRV, registered under his name, when Ebarle was killed...

he seldom uses the Honda CRV and the vehicle was 'parked at [his house] most of the week...”

“[He does] not remember where the keys to this Honda are kept. [He has] never used, drove or boarded this Honda vehicle at any time on… Nov. 18...” noting he used a Toyota Grandia van that day.

Pollard said from the time he arrived home at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday [and] until the next morning, he never went to check if the CRV was parked in its designated space.

(PhilStar)

Pollard's statement does not implicate his step son in anyway and rather than aid the police in anyway it would appear that he is instead "stonewalling," the investigation,

Chief Insp. Benjamin Elenzano, the QCPD homicide chief, said Pollard... refused to submit the vehicle for forensic tests, saying he could not remember where the keys were. But he promised that his lawyer would cooperate with the investigation.

Elenzano said Pollard declined to answer questions on who was using the Honda that day and the whereabouts of his stepson, Ivler.

“He refused to answer who was driving the vehicle that night and said it’s our job to find out,” Elenzano said.

(Inquirer)

Police are still on the look out for Ivler, issuing an "all points bulletin" for his arrest, as well as using "the NCRPO’s network of CCTV cameras installed in strategic locations around Metro Manila,” to watch the streets for him.  They warn that he could be "armed and dangerous."

"Ivler has not been [back] to his house on Hillside Drive, Blue Ridge A in Barangay Libis, Quezon City... [Metro police chief Director Roberto Rosales] has coordinated with Bureau of Immigration associate commissioner Enrique Galang Jr. to prevent Ivler from leaving the country."

Pollard's squeeze, Ivler's momma- Marlene Aguilar.

It would be in his interest to escape the islands because the luxury of his stepfather's diplomatic immunity "is not extended to his family, especially since Ivler committed a crime against a person."

We'll keep you posted.

Sources:
• Manhunt on for suspect in Ebarle Jr. slay (Manila Times)
• Ebarle slay suspect tied to earlier killing (Inquirer)
• Manhunt on for Quezon City road rage slay suspect (PhilStar)